Romantic Dinner Date Ideas: 17 Fun Dates You Both Will Never Forget

If you want to bring out your inner hopeless romantic and spoil your lover, keep reading to find out the most romantic dinner date ideas you can enjoy.

There’s just something about dinner dates that scream romance and love. If you’ve watched several romcoms, then you know what we mean. By knowing the right kind of romantic dinner date ideas and using them, you can easily surprise your partner with the most romantic dinner date of their life!

Whether you just recently started dating or have been together for years, romantic dinner date ideas are applicable for both scenarios. It’s a great way to get to connect with your new lover better, and the perfect way to rekindle your spark throughout the years.

No matter how you decide to enjoy a dinner date or what your intentions are, you need to understand what it takes to make a dinner date perfect.

[Read: How to plan a date that’ll blow anyone’s mind and impress them]

Romantic dinner date ideas

Most of us have forgotten what a dinner date is all about these days. It isn’t just about fancy restaurants or showing off to each other. There’s a lot more to a dinner date than just splurging money. In fact, you can have a romantic dinner date even if it doesn’t involve the most expensive restaurant in town.

The perfect dinner date is all about romance and love. It’s about enjoying each other’s company and basking in the warm glow of love on a pleasant night.

No matter how much or little you spend, it can be the most romantic dinner date experience of your life if you feel loved in each other’s presence.

If you can have a memorable and romantic night with each other, then you’ve definitely succeeded in planning a perfect dinner date. [Read: How to plan a perfect date by involving your lover]

What are dinner dates for?

When you’re first getting to know someone or in the initial stages of a relationship, a dinner date isn’t just about impressing them. It’s about making them feel loved in the best way possible. It’s not entirely about candlelit dinner and roses, but it can be about adventure and home-cooked meals.

If you’ve been together for the longest time, dinner dates can allow you to rekindle the chemistry you share and appreciate the love you still have for each other. Even with your busy schedule, it’s a chance to spend quality time together with just the two of you.

Dinner dates pull you out of your daily routine, and just for a moment *or a few hours*, give you some time to focus not just on each other, but on the love you have for each other as well. Time stands still, and even if you’re not feeling particularly romantic or loved up, it just takes a few minutes of the experience to start feeling the love and affection flow back into your heart.

Try it, you’ll know exactly what we mean!

[Read: 33 awesome date ideas every couple should try]

17 dinner date ideas to feel the love

Here are some of the best romantic dinner date ideas that are unique and fun, and most definitely memorable and romantic. If you want to try something new, try these date ideas. You may just end up having a lot of fun with each other.

1. A home-cooked meal

If you’re a good chef, show off your culinary skills by inviting your date over for dinner at home. Even if you’re not *as long as you don’t burn the food or house down*, then feel free to surprise them with a meal.

This isn’t a good option for a first date because the setting can be rather personal and your date may assume you’re only doing this to sleep with them. But for any other date, it gives you a chance to let your date know how special they are to you. Also, it’s fun to experiment with different recipes and see which one they’ll love the best.

This is a simple and easy date, and depending on your culinary skills, you can make a memorable impression too. [Read: Sexy tips to dress for sex when your date comes home]

2. A long drive and dinner

Someone once said that the journey is far more important than the destination. If both of you have some time on your hands, head out early in the evening to a great place an hour or so away from your area code.

This is honestly one of the most memorable romantic dinner date ideas you can bring to life.

There’s no way they won’t remember a dinner you took them away from town. Enjoy the views, have wonderful conversations along the way, and you’ll be able to create a memory that’ll be unique and gossip-worthy. [Read: The best second date tips and third date tips to build the romance perfectly]

3. Candlelight dinner in the backyard

You can never go wrong with a candlelit dinner as it’s one of the classic romantic date ideas. Light candles in your backyard and place a few candles on a small cozy table where both of you can sit down close, share food or dessert, and have a long conversation about your time together.

It’s impossible not to feel romance in the air, regardless if you just started dating or having been together for years. [Read: 60 get-to-know-you questions for a new relationship]

4. A standup comedy show and dinner

If you’re not too great with your conversation skills or feel rather nervous, this may be an acceptable first date option *just as long as you do speak and both of you get to know each other*. Romantic dates don’t always have to be so serious, you know? It’s a great way to laugh together and have a fun time.

Just make sure you wrap the date up by going somewhere cozy for dessert so you don’t forget the romance in all that fun.

5. Karaoke night

Karaoke nights never go out of romance when thinking of romantic date night ideas.

Head out to a karaoke bar, watch several other bad singers bray out of tune, laugh at them together, have lots of drinks, have dinner, join the list of bad singers by singing at the top of your voice, and don’t forget to serenade your lover while you’re at it.

If you’re confident enough to do this, you should know that karaoke date nights are one of the most memorable ways to bond, and impress your lover with your confidence as well!

6. Live music

Live music can be a perfect accompaniment for a romantic dinner. Pick a restaurant with live jazz or soulful blues, or any kind of music that makes both of you feel relaxed and intimate at the same time.

With the buzz of a few drinks in the air, both of you will feel really cozy and romantic in the warm, soft glow of dim lights and the smooth music resonating around you. [Read: The perfect way to enjoy a movie date with your new lover]

7. Cook-your-own-food restaurants

These restaurants aren’t the first choice for lazy diners, but for a romantic date? Well, this can be just perfect! This is one of those unique romantic date night ideas you’ll both enjoy as you appreciate one another’s presence. Especially if you both love food *who doesn’t?*, this is the perfect dinner date idea to try together!

You get to cook for each other, have loads of laughs while preparing the food, and enjoy a wonderfully unique experience that can easily stretch for a few hours without the worry of date conversations that may leave one of you feeling awkward.

8. Take a pizza and go somewhere nice

Pizza nights and a breathless view? It couldn’t get any better than this. It’s one of the most romantic dinner date ideas that people often look over, but can be a date to remember. This is as simple as it gets. No fuss, no problems, and all memories.

Dress up in regular casuals, pick up a pizza along the way and head out to a romantic place, be it a park, cliff or a calm street with a perfect view. [Read: The 5 perfect questions you always need to ask on a date]

9. Unconventional dinner

Feeling adventurous? Meet up for some good street food, or visit a food truck together. Walk down a food street and eat anything that catches your fancy. Each restaurant or food truck has its own unique foods, and that’s what makes it so much fun! Food trucks or street food, how can that be a romantic date?

With the right person, you’ll look back on this as a romantic date. It doesn’t matter if it’s a food truck, a tiny burger joint on the way, or even a cart on the street. Make sure you get the best out of the experience by ending with ice cream before heading home!

10. Go restaurant hopping

Pick a street with a lot of restaurants next to each other. Don’t have your dinner at just one place, instead go restaurant hopping by having one course in each restaurant. It sounds silly, but you’ll never know just how much fun you can have when you walk from one cuisine to another in a matter of minutes. A drink or two will make the whole thing a lot funnier too!

The thing is, you’ll never know what to expect with each restaurant! It might come with an expense, but the experience will make it worthwhile. [Read: Foodie dates and 15 unique dinner ideas for new couples]

11. Try something new together

There’s always a new cuisine to try all the time. If both of you haven’t tried a particular cuisine yet, take a chance on something unique together. Even if you’re not adventurous with food, take it as a chance to try something new together.

Even if you don’t like it, at least you tried something new, right? The more exotic it sounds, the better the dinner date experience, don’t forget that. [Read: When should a guy call after a date?]

12. Order food at home and watch a movie

Order food at home, kick your shoes off, sink into the couch and watch a movie at home. A simple romantic comedy with an even simpler plot works best because it gives both of you time to talk in between without missing any plot points.

You don’t always have to go out to experience a romantic dinner. You’ll be surprised how you can create a romantic vibe even with just a home date!

Although, it’s not recommended if it’s your first date as it automatically implies going to the bedroom afterward. [Read: The 60 most romantic movies in the world that are a must-watch for all romantics]

13. Romantic restaurants

This is one of the romantic dinner date ideas at its very best. It’s very predictable, but also memorable if you pick the perfect restaurant with the perfect ambiance.

It’s also the easiest way to plan a date without going all out in your efforts, especially when you want to seem effortless to your date. [Read: The right time to say ‘I love you’ for the first time]

14. Coffee dinner dates

If both of you are into coffee, then this is one of those romantic dinner date ideas you shouldn’t ignore! Imagine this – coffee, deep conversations, and romance in the air. There’s nothing better than having endless conversations with your date or significant other in a coffee shop ambiance.

You never know, you could lose track of time entirely because of how lost you both are, in another’s presence. That’s romance right there!

15. Beach dinner date

This is more reserved if you’ve gotten to know each other better *unless you want to take the chance of taking them on a beach dinner date*. A beach dinner date is a romantic dinner date idea that you both will never forget.

There’s nothing more romantic than a beach setting, dinner, and maybe some wine that you’ll both share until the night ends.

16. Museum dinner date

This is another one of those underrated dinner date ideas, but if they enjoy art, then a museum date is the perfect date! Take them to a museum where you both can appreciate art, and you can have dinner afterward.

It also gives you a lot to talk about over dinner, especially if you’re both into art or have the creativity to appreciate it. [Read: Where to go on a first date – The 17 best & worst dating spots ever]

17. Video games date

We’re referring to all gamers out there as this one’s for you! Again, you don’t need to spend all your money to plan the perfect date night as you can do it right from your home. Play video games together, order take out, and you can both have conversations while eating dinner.

It’s one of the underrated ways to have a romantic date, but it definitely works. Just remember to pause the game every now and then to actually talk!

So, what are the most romantic date night ideas?

No matter what idea you bring to life, make sure it’s something you’ll both enjoy and think of as memorable.

It’s also best if you choose an activity that they’ll love as much as you do. For instance, don’t go pushing a candlelit dinner if they’ll prefer movie date nights a lot more!

[Read: How to end a date at the perfect time without feeling awkward]

Perfect romantic dinner date ideas for two need just a couple of things. It doesn’t need to be luxurious or expensive, but it needs to be filled with romance in the air. It doesn’t get any simpler than that.